Automatic balance for cotton-press side doors



May 1, 1928. 1,668,437

J. J. WALLACE .AUTOMATIC BALANGE FOR COTTON PRESS SIDE DOORS Fil ed Sept. 8. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 h WW May 1, 1928. 1,668,437

J. J. WALLACE AUTOMATIC BALANCE FOR COTTON PRESS SIDE DOORS Filed Sept. 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .kmy. J. Wallace aibozneqd Patented May 1, 1928 1,668,437 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEFFREY JOHN WALLACE, 0F AMITE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GULLETT GIN COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF LOUISIANA.

auroafa'rrc BALANCE FOR COTTON-PRESS sins nouns.

Application filed September 8, 1927 Serial No. 218,238.,

This invention relates to improvements in means for counterbalancing doors, particularly the type of doors common to cotton presses.

An object of this invention is primarily to provide a means for overcoming the objection of lifting the heavy side doors of a cotton press and eliminating the old and common method of having a weight, attached and detached when operating the press doors. i I

p i A further objectuof this invention is to provide a counterbalance which will function to cooperate with a plurality ofdoors in theoperation of a press, the weights or counterbalances beingso arrangedas to be independent of the doors, but at the same time be in an operative positionconstantly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a. counterweight device having a combination of elements in no manner permanently attached or forming a part of the upper side doors ofthe presspa. stop mem- .,bersuitably located on the side door being the only contact this counterbalancing device has with the side door of the press.

Other objects ofthis invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of the device and as disclosed in the two i sheets of drawings which are herewith made a part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates of Figure 2 taken along line 1- -1. N

Figure 2 illustrates a side elevational view of a double box pressused inv the ginning of cotton, disclosing the counterbalance weights in operat-iverelationship thereto. Figure '3 represents an elevational ,view similar to Figure 1 except that the counterweights and operating elements are disclosed imposition when one. of the press doors islowered. a

Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of the device disclosing the channel iron support and the method of pivotallyarranging the, -door therein, together with the means of loosely mounting the counterbalance weights and links thereon.- Figure. 5 illustrates a plan view of Fig ure 4. K

Numerals 1 and 2 designate a doublebox press used for cotton ginning and made ofany suitable material, having steel binding an elevational view shape desirable for the purpose, approximately as disclosed in Figures 1 and 3, wherein one end oteach of the link ele ments 6 and 7 is .pivotally attached to the weight; 3 and the other ends being loosely mounted in one end of, the levers 8 and 9.

nseam pins 10 and 11 are adapted to receivc, pivotally mounted thereon, the lever elements 8 and 9 atapproximately the center portions thereof. At a suitable position transversely otthc doors 4.- and 5 is adapted to be fastened stop members 12 and 13,

which maybe of angle iron structure or other suitable material andsecurely bolted or screwed to the doors, the free endsof the lever portions 8 and 9 being adapted to contact with the stop elements 12 and 13 in such a manner that when the door 4, for

instance, isYlowered into position disclosed in liigure 3, the free end of the lever 8 'com ing in contact with the stop portion 13 will force one end of, the weight 3 upwardl as disclosed, the opposite end of the weig it 3 being retained in approximately its original position. The fulcrum pins 10 and 11in this invention are preferably formed and mounted as disclosed in Figures 4; and 5.

wherein the pins are shown entirely independent of the press door and detached therefrom, being substantially supported in channel iron 14: which is securely fastened in some suitable manner near the lower edge ofthedoor with portions extending beyond the sides of the box a sufficient distance to properly receive the fulcrum members 10 and 11.

Thc doors 4 and 5 are preferably, in this hinged relationship, as disclosed in. Figure 4, is shown in Figure 5 and clearly illus- ,trates the means of holding the fulcrum pin in connection with the channel iron-mem- In the above arrangement of elements, it is press.

to be noted that the parts form a combination in no'manner permanentlyattaehed and forming no part of the upper side door of the press, stop elements 12 and 13 being the only contacts this arrangement has with the side doors 4 and 5. v v

In operation and principle, this invention provides a means for overcoming the objec-' by means of a rope with a hook on the'end,

whereby, when the side doors of the press are to be let down, they are engaged with an eye fastened to the sidedo'ors. This counterbalance is all right, perhaps, for certain purposes, but if thebperator loosens the lock on the door, forgetting to engag'ethe hook of the counterweight, the heavy door' will fall to the press platform with accoman in dan er to the o erator and much b D annoyance. To overcome this great disadvantage, the present invention has been de" vised, whereln a counterbalance, while not in any manner attached to the side doors or the hinged pieces thereof, is always operative without attention on the part of the op erator, by reason of a simple device of an angle iron bolted to the side doors of the press in such a manner that on lowering or raising of the doors, the stop elements will 'comein contact with the lever operating through a fulcrum bolted to the channel iron on the bottom end doors of the press and by means of links will function to raise'and lower the weight as clearly shown in the drawings.

Another advantage is that there is but one weight for the pair of side doors of each press.

In the method for baling cotton, it may be I stated that the lint cotton is usually fed into the press box on the left by means of an automatic tramper on the top thereof. The long box is closed at the bottom by afollower which cannot fall out but is free to move upward. The tramper Working up and down packs the cotton compactly in the box.

The retainers are located near the top of the bointhereby preventing it from springing back. I v i Whena bale 1s tramped in the box,'t he contalners are revolved around, the full box' or container then being over a hydraulic ram at the bottom and under the platen at the opened.

top. The retainers are withdrawn and the ram is run up until the follower is at a predetermined point. As the bagging, top and bottom, was in place at the start, the bale is ready to be tied out with steel bands, At this point in the operation there is, of course, great outward pressure on the side doors of the press box, as cottonbeing of a spongy nature has a tendency when pressure is applied to spring outward. The side doors of the press are very heavy to Withstand this pressure and 'are held in place by suitable locks,- the lever of which on one door is usually at the left, the link held fast to the door on the rear.

cotton baling method, it may be easily seen why a counterbalance is needed. To lift the leverand allow the doors to fall is dangerous to the'parts and to the workmen at the press. So itwill be perceived a counterbalance is quite necessary and is usually fastened to both front and rear doors by means of a hook oil-rope and an eye oneach'door. Such a method has been for-years in use. Op erators' claim that when the press man turns loose the door levers, forgetting the rope, danger is'imminent 'lhecounterbalance device, according to this invention, obviates the disadvantages above described. The levers are not attached to the hinged piece at the side'of the press door, but operate in relationship to the'door and the weight by an up' and down movementon a hinge pin fastened, not'to the side door, but to a channel iron on the end ofth'edoor. I

It is to befunderstood that alterations and substitutionsmay be made in the ,abovedisclosure within thegscope of the appended From'th'e above general description of a claimswithout affecting the merits of this invention.

What I claim is k 1. Ina box press, a pair of doors hingedly attached to the box, a singlecounterbalance weight for the pair of doors, levers for operating the Weight, aiulcrum'pin for pivota'lly mounting the levers, loosely mounted link members connectingfthe weight to one end of the levers, the opposite ends of the levers being free,.a stop member oneach of the doors for contacting with, the free ends of the levers thereby revolvingthe levers and raising the weight when a dooris In box press, a pair of doors hingedly attached to the box, a-single counterbalance weight for 'the'pair of doors, levers for ope'ratin'g the weight, afulcrum pin for pivotally mounting the levers, loosely mounted link" members connecting the weight to one end of the levers, the opposite ends of the levers being free, a stop member on each ofthe doors; for contacting with the free ends of the levers -'thereby revolving, the

levers and raising the weight when a door is opened, a support for the fulcrum pin independent of the door.

3. In a box press, a pair of doors hingedly attached to the box, a single counterbalance weight for the pair of doors, levers for operating the weight, a fulcrum pin for pivotally mounting the levers, loosely mounted link members connecting the weight to one end of the levers, the opposite ends of the levers being free, a stop member on each of the doors for contacting with the free ends of the levers thereby revolving the levers and raising the weight when a door is opened, a support for the fulcrum pin independent of the door, consisting of. a bracket attached to the box press.

4. In a box press, a plurality of doors for the box, a single counter balance weight for the doors, members for operating the Weight, a stop member on each of the doors for con tacting with the members for operating the weight.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JEFFREY JOHN WALLACE. 

